Drug dealers were found in possession of cocaine and crack cocaine after they were pulled over by police who smelled cannabis coming from their car. They were also found with thousands of pounds in cash and designer clothing.
Corey Gibbons, 22, and Jonathan Tovey, 21, were in a Vauxhall Corsa being driven around Newport on October 31 last year when they were stopped by police officers who caught a strong stench of cannabis from their car. A search of the car resulted in the discovery of cannabis worth between £20 and £40.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard both defendants were searched and Gibbons was found in possession of 16g of cocaine separated into smaller deals. Two burners phones were also found having been concealed in his underwear. The drugs in his possession were valued between £150 and £270.
Corey Gibbons, 22, was found in possession of cocaine and cannabis when he was pulled over by police in Newport.
(Image: Gwent Police)
On Tovey police found a burner phone in his underwear, 6g of crack cocaine and 15g of cocaine, as well as £1,120 in cash. The total value of the drugs found in his possession was between £1,470 and £1,730.
Prosecutor Martha Smith-Higgins said as a result of those discoveries, further searches were conducted at the defendants’ respective homes. At Gibbons home was £6,280 in cash, high value clothing including a Gucci cap and designer jackets, and in an outside bin was empty plastic packaging with traces of cocaine. At Tovey’s home there was paraphernalia including ammonia, a saucepan with crack cocaine residue, scales and grip seal bags, indicative of washing cocaine into crack cocaine.
At the time of his arrest, Gibbons boasted about the money he was making through drugs, said he had paid for he and his partner to go to Turkey for veneers and said “cocaine is power”. The burner phones were examined and found to contain messages related to drug dealing.
Jonathan Tovey, 21, was found in possession of cocaine and cannabis when he was pulled over by police in Newport.
(Image: Gwent Police)
Gibbons, of Jenkins Street, Newport, and Tovey, of Broadmead Park, Newport, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs, possession of class B drugs and possession of criminal property. The court heard Gibbons had one previous conviction for dangerous driving while Tovey has no previous convictions.
In mitigation, Peter Donnison for Tovey said his client had a good upbringing and it was unusual for someone of his background to end up committing such offences. He described the defendant as “immature” and as having “lower thinking skills” but whilst on remand in custody he has kicked his cannabis addiction and he is due to become a father.
Dan Jones, for Gibbons, said his client also comes from a supportive family and became involved in drug dealing as he didn’t have a job and wanted to make “easy money”. While in prison he has completed bricklaying and patio laying courses.
Recorder Robin Rouch sentenced both defendants to 28 months imprisonment each. Both defendants will serve half the sentence in custody before being released to serve the remainder on licence.
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